Paush Purnima falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Paush (December-January). It is an important bathing date and thousands of devotees take bath in various sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna on this day. On the occasion of Paush Purnima, thousands of people converge at the temple town of Prayag (Allahabad) for the holy bath at Sangam – the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Mythical Saraswati rivers. It is believed by taking holy dips in the sacred rivers one will be relieved from all the sins of this birth and of previous births and attain Moksha. It is also believed that all the wishes will comes true on this day.
Thousands of devotees from all over the world take a holy dip in the sacred river at various places including Haridwar, Allahabad, Nasik and Ujjain. Devotees can be seen taking baths in rivers since the morning. After the holy dip they pour water in front of the sun and perform other religious practices. Water is also poured on Shiva linga and time is spent in sadhna. Giving donations, charities etc. are also considered very sacred on this day. On this day heavy rush is witnessed in Hindu temples across the country. This day marks the last full moon of winter and baths of Magh month start with Paush Purnima and hence, this day is considered very important.
In 2013 this day has special significance since this day falls during the Maha Kumbh Mela of Allahabad. It is an important bathing date in the famous Allahabad Kumbh Mela.
On Paush Purnima day other festivals like Shakambari Jayanti, Satyanarayana Vratham and Charta festival are also observed.
Paush Purnima is also celebrated as Shakambari Jayanti. It is believed that Goddess Shakumbari Devi who is an incarnation of Goddess Shakti appeared on this day on earth. She is believed to be the Goddess of Vegetables, Fruits and Green leaves. According to a legend, once there was a draught on the earth and it didn't rain for almost a hundred years. As a result all plants and animals on earth stated dying without water.so Goddess Bhagvati incarnated on the earth as Shakambari Devi and blessed everyone with rain and new life. In some temples the nine-day Shakambari Navaratri concludes on the day.
People living in the villages of Chhattisgarh celebrate Charta festival on the auspicious day of Paush Purnima. It is the harvest festival of Chhattisgarh and is celebrated with great fervour by all tribal communities in the region. Charta Festival has kids going around the village collecting rice from each household. The married women then cook the collected rice on the banks of the nearby water body. During the festival several songs and dances of tribal community are performed by the men and women while waiting for the feast to be served.
Lord Satyanarayana is also worshipped on Bhadrapad Purnima. Pushyabhishek Yatra is celebrated in Sri Krishna temples all over India on this day. Goddess Laxmi, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma are also worshiped on this day.